Device for testing meat tenderness



Sept. 22, 1953 H. P. WISEMAN I 2,652,713

DEVICE FOR TESTING MEAT TENDERNESS Filed Jan. 28, 1949 Y '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 90 u fi lg: 28 20 mwmwmwwm Hnnmw P VV/SE'MAM 4 I06 I I6 I 89 2% M 3nventor:

4 5 I V An attorney Sept. 22, 1953 H. P. WISEMAN 2 1 DEVICE FOR TESTING MEAT TENDERNESS Filed Jan. 28, 1949 2 Shets-Sheet 2 HmLow P W/ssMnM AIL (Ittorneg.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR TESTING MEAT TENDERNESS Harlow P. Wiseman, Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Application January 28, 1949, Serial No. 73,297

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for testing the solidity or tenderness of meat before the meat is cooked. It is well known that in the meat business 'heretofore the tenderness of a piece of meat has been generally tested by the butcher or customer grasping the meat between the thumb and first finger and applying pressure to the meat. As the sense of touch and the judgment to the tenderness of meat is not exactly the same with all individuals, some might say a certain piece of meat was tender, others might judge the same piece of meat to be very tender, while still others might say the same piece of meat was only medium tender. Thus, accuracy of judgment varies between different individuals. Therefore, to overcome the variance of opinion, I have provided a mechanical meat testing device which operates on the principle of squeezing the meat between the operating squeezing members of the device, which area mechanical substitute for the squeezing of the meat between a persons fingers. But unlike various individuals judgment, when a piece of meat is tested on a plurality of the devices, they will all register the same amount of solidity of the meat.

The general object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operated device for testing the solidity or tenderness of a piece of meat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a meat testing device, including visual means indicating the solidity of meat viewable to both the customer and the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a meat testing device including means to apply a predetermined pressure to a confined area of the meat to be tested.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a meat testing device including means to apply a predetermined pressure around a selected area of meat and therafter apply other pressure to the confined area to determine the solidity oi the meat.

My novel device is adapted to test meat for tenderness whereby the same may be cooked within a reasonable time after such testing to thereby indicate the approximate tenderness of the meat after the same has been cooked.

Other objects, advantage and features of my invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims. y

' The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in some of the forms I at present deem preferable.

Figure l is a rear elevation of my improved meat testing device. By rear I mean that elevation of the device viewed by the operator and not by the customer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the foot of the device engaging a piece of meat and with the plunger released and forcing the test plug downward to an operative testing position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing only the lower portion of the testing mechanism and shows the foot engaging a piece of meatbut with the plunger in a raised position.

Fig. 5 is a 1ongitudina1 vertical section through the device taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2 with the base and platform in elevation and with the testing device in a lowered inoperative position; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have indicated my improved device generally at i. As shown, the device l includes a wooden base member 2 having mounted thereon adjacent one end a platform member 4 which is preferably formed of a very hard material such as a piece of marble.

Adjacent the other end of the base 2 I provide a vertical bolster member 6 which includes an enlarged circular base flange 8 shown as secured to the base 2 by a plurality of countersunk bolts iii and nuts Ii. The bolster E has a central vertical bore 1 2 therein which opens through the top of the bolster and at the lower end communicates with an enlarged recess i3 opening through the bottom face of the base flange ll.

Supported by the bolster 8 I provide a vertical shaft M which includes a lower reduced portion I5 position in the bolster bore l2 and having a further reduced threaded portion l5 extending into the bolster recess IS. A washer ll secured against the lower end of the reduced portion I5 by a nut It on the threaded portion It prevents upward vertical movement of the shaft while allowing it free rotation relative to the bolster.

Mounted on the shaft is I provide a sleeve member 22 which is vertically movable relative to the shaft M. The upper end of the sleeve 22 is preferably closed by a cap 23 to prevent foreign matter from entering the sleeve. The sleeve 22 includes a horizontally extending elongated hub portion 24 having a co-axial bore 25 therein which opens through the outer end of the hub and at the opposite end communicates with the interior of the sleeve 22. Adjacent the sleeve22 the hub 2 l has an enlarged chamber 21 therein in axial alignment with the bore 26 and opening into the interior of the sleeve.

In the side of the shaft is towards the hub 24 there are provided a plurality of spur gear teeth forming a rack portion 28. To prevent relative rotative movement between the sleeve 22 and the shaft [4 I provide a keyway 30 in the 3 shaft which is adapted to receive a key member 3i secured to the sleeve 22 by a screw 32.

The keyway 3G terminates a predetermined distance above the bottom of the sleeve 22 forming a shoulder 33 which when the sleeve is moved upward is engaged by the key 3! and prevents the complete removal of the sleeve from the shaft l4.

Positioned in the hub chamber i provide a spur gear 34 mounted on and secured to a shaft 36 by a key 3?. See Figs. 3 and 5. lhe spur gear 34 meshes with the shaft rack 28 and the gear shaft as is rotatably mounted in the hub 26 and extends out beyond one side thereof through a boss 38, exterior to which it has a hand wheel 38 mounted on and secured thereto. See Fig. 3. The hand wheel 39 is shown as provided with an operating handle 4e by means of which it is adapted to be rotated to rotate the shaft which in turn will rotate the gear 3% thereby either forcing the sleeve 22 to move upward or downward depending on the direction of rotation.

To retain the sleeve 22 in any desired vertically moved position on the shaft Hi, I provide a clamping mechanism indicated generally at 62 and shown in detail in Fig. 3. As shown, the clamping mechanism includes a protruding housing portion 43 integral with the sleeve 22 and extending outward therefrom on the same side as the hand wheel 39 and a short distance thereabove. See Figs. 1 and 2. The housing 48 has a chamber 4d therein opening into the interior of the sleeve 22 and a pair of opposed co-axial threaded apertures 45, the axes of which extend parallel to the axis of the hub 24.

The apertures 45 are each closed by a threaded plug 46 having an enlarged hexagonal head ill thereon. Each of the plugs it has a co-axial aperture 48 therein in which a rod is positioned for axial movement. The rod 5i; at each end projects beyond the adjacent plug and intermediate the length thereof within the chamber dd includes an enlarged portion 5i, one face of which is tapered to form a cam surface 52. earn surface 52 is towards the shaft !4 and when moved into tight engagement therewith by pressure applied to one end of the rod 56 will prevent vertical movement of the sleeve 22 relative to the shaft M. Thus, the sleeve 22 may be releasably retained in any adjusted vertical position along the shaft It.

Positioned in the bore 26 of the hub 24 I provide a bar which is axiaily movable in the bore 25 and extends beyond the outer end of the hub 25. To prevent rotation of the bar 55 relative to the hub 24 I provide a keyway 5? in the bar which is adapted to receive a key member 58 secured to the hub 24 by a screw 59. The keyway 57: does not extend out through the inner end of the bar 58 but terminates a predetermined distance inward therefrom forming a shoulder 68 which when the bar 58 is moved outwardly engages the key 58 and prevents the bar from being completely removed from the hub 24.

A head casing member indicated generally at 55 is adapted to be mounted on the bar 56 and include a bored boss 36 in which the outer end portion of the bar 56 is positioned and secured by a set screw 51 in the boss. Above the boss the casing is fan-shaped and has a chamber 68 therein defined by end walls 69 and M, an arcuate top wall H and a front wall 12. Opposite the front wall 72 the rear face of the casing is open and is adapted to be closed by a cover plate '54.

The

Between the cover plate 14 and the walls of the casing a gasket 15 is preferably provided to exclude foreign substances. The cover plate '74 is shown as secured to the casing by a plurality of screw members it which engage suitably threaded apertures provided in the front wall 72.

Adjacent the top thereof the front wall 12 has an elongated arcuate viewing aperture therein which is closed by a transparent glass member 19. (See Fig. 2.) Directly opposite the viewing aperture 78 in the front wall the cover plate M has a similarly shaped viewing aperture 88 therein which is closed by a transparent glass member 8!. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

The head casing includes an integral annular hub portion 84 which depends below the boss 65 and terminates in a reduced threaded portion 85.

Depending from the hub 84 I provide an annular foot member or test plug housing member 86 having a recess 87 therein opening through the bottom face thereof. Opening through the upper face thereof and communicating with the recess 81 and coaxial therewith the foot has a secured threaded aperture 83 therein which is engaged by the threaded portion 85 of the hub 84. The lower portion of the foot recess 81 is preferably outwardly flared, as indicated at 89.

Mounted on the rear side of the foot member 66 I provide a pressure indicator plate 90,.the edge 9! of which is arcuately shaped and projects outward beyond the foot in a direction away from the vertical shaft [4 and has on the rear face thereof an indicium 92 and on the front face an indicium 93. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the pressure indicator plate 93 is secured to the hub 84 by a plurality of countersunk screws 94.

Pivotally mounted, intermediate its length, on a shouldered screw 96 secured to the plate 90 I provide a pressure indicator arm 98. The end of the arm 98 to the rear of the plate 90 includes a reduced rear indicator portion 99 adapted to coact with the indicium 93 upon certain operations of the device to be more fully explained hereinafter. (See Fig. 1.) The reduced portion 99 of the indicator arm extends beyond the arcuate edge 9| of the plate 90 and 1 7 extends therearound and back upon itself to form aperture 86 the indicator plate 90 has a similar aperture Hi2 therein.

Positioned in the recess 8? of the foot member I provide a test plug 504. As shown, the test plug MM is annular in cross section and of considerable less diameter than the diameter of the foot recess 87 to assure ample freedom of vertical movement. The lower face of the test plug I64 is imperforated and frusto-spherical as indicated at I05 and opening through the top thereof the test plug I04 has a recess Iilii therein. Mounted in the test plug and extending rearwardly therefrom I provide a pin 168 which extends through the foot aperture HM and the plate aperture I02 and is secured to the indicator arm 98 adjacent the end thereof opposite the pointer I as by riveting it thereto as indicated at I00. Thus, through the medium of the pin I08 vertical movement of the test plug I04 will rock the indicator arm 98. The pin I08 when it engages the bottom of the slot IOI limits the downward movement of the test plug I04.

The previously mentioned casing hub 84 has a coaxial vertical bore IIO therein, the upper end of which opens into the casing chamber 68 and the lower end of which opens through the bottom face of the reduced threaded portion 85 into the recess 81 of the foot 86. Positioned in the bore IIO I provide a plunger member II2, the lower portion of which extends below the reduced threaded portion 85 into the foot recess 81 and into the recess I06 of the test plug I04. The upper end of the plunger I I2 includes a fiattened portion II3 which projects upward into the casing chamber 68.

Surrounding the plunger I I2 and positioned in the test plug recess I06 I provide a coiled expansion spring II4, the upper end of which bears against the lower face of the casing hub 84 and the lower end against the bottom of the test plug recess I06, thus normally urging the test plug I04 downward.

Adjacent the flattened portion I I3 the plunger II2 has a transverse slot 5 in the rear side thereof. (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

Adjacent the plunger slot .I I5 I provide a rearwardly extending horizontal plunger lift shaft I I6 which is rotatably mounted in a bore III provided in the casing hub 84 and an integral boss portion H8. The lift shaft II6 extends rearwardly from the boss H8 and adjacent the outer end thereof has an operating handle II9 secured thereto. Extending forwardly from the inner end thereof the lift shaft I I6 includes a reduced excentrally located pin I20 which is adapted to be positioned in the plunger slot II5. Intermediate the length thereof the lift shaft II6 has a circumferential groove I2I therearound into which the end of a set screw I22, provided in the boss I I8, projects to prevent axial movements of the lift shaft.

Extending upwardly therefrom to the rear of the flattened portion II3, the plunger II2 includes a reduced rod I24 which may be secured to the plunger rod in any desired manner such as by welding or brazing it thereto. The rod I24 adjacent the upper end thereof includes an enlarged head I25 positioned in a tubular housing I26 mounted on the rear of the cover plate 14 and having its lower end opening into the chamber 68. The upper end of the housing I26 is closed by a threaded plug I21; Positioned in the tubular housing I26 between the plug I2! andthe rod head I25 I provide a coiled expansion spring I30 which acts to urge the rod I25 and the plunger II2 downwardly.

To move the plunger II2 upwards against the action of the spring I30 an operator rotates the lift shaft I I6 through the medium of the handle H9 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby moving the pin I20 to a position above the axis of the shaft II6. As the pin I20 is thus moved it engages the upper face of the plunger slot 5 and moves the plunger I I2 upward to the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5. To free the plunger II2 so the spring I30 can force it downward to the position shown in Fig. 2 the operator rotates the lift shaft H6 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

' Positioned in the casing chamber 68 above the plunger I I2 I provide a disc member I32 which is rotatably mounted on a shouldered stud screw I33 secured to the front wall I2 of the casing. (See Fig. 2.)

A link member I34 is pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to the flattened portion II3 of the plunger I I2 as indicated in pin I36 and the opposite end of the link is pivotally connected by a pin I38 to the disc I32 to the side of the axis of the stud screw I33 towards the vertical shaft I4.

Adjacent the top of the casing 65 and within the chamber 68 I provide a dial plate I40 which is retained in position by the upper two cover screws I6. On each side thereof the dial plate has two indicia scales I II and I42, the indicia scale I4I being titled Steaks and, the scale I42 Roasts. The steak scale I42 is shown as divided into four divisionsl43, I44, I45 and I46 each indicating a different degree of condition of meat such as Very Tender, Tender, Medium, and Tough. The roast scale I42 isshown as divided into three divisions I41, I40 and I49 and like the steak scale divisions each indicating a different degree of condition of meat, such as Very Tender, Tender, and Medium Tough. The two scales MI and I42 on the front face of the dial I40 are aligned with the casing aperture 78 and are adapted to be viewed therethrough. Likewise, the scales MI and I42 on the rear face of the dial I40 are aligned with the aperture in the cover I4 and are adapted to be viewed therethrough.

Mounted on and secured to the disc I32 I provide a pointer arm I50 which extends towards the dial I40. The upper portion of the pointer arm I50 terminates in a tapered pointer portion I5I which is adapted to move across and indicate the divisions of the steak scale I4I on the front face of the dial I40. Slightly below the dial I40 the pointer arm I50 includes an offset portion I52 positioned to the side thereof towards the vertical shaft I4, which terminates in a tapered pointer portion I53. The pointer I63 is adapted to move across and indicate the divisions of the roast scale I42 on the front face of the dial I40. Mounted on the rear side of the pointer arm I50 below the dial I40 I provide an auxiliary pointer member I55. The auxiliary pointer member I55 may be secured to the pointer arm I50 as by riveting it thereto as indicated at I55 and includes a rearwardly extending ofiset portion I5? which overlays the rear face of the dial I40 and terminates in dual pointer portions I58 and I56 similar to the pointer portions I5I and I 53. (See Fig. 1.) The pointer portion I58 coacts with the rear steak scale MI in the same manner as the pointer I5I does with the front steak scale and the pointer I59 coacts with the rear roast scale I42 in the same manner as the pointer I53 does with the front roast scale.

Within the chamber 68 I provide a coiled tension spring I60 which at one end is attached to a pin I6I secured to the disc I32 and at the opposite end is anchored to a pin I62 mounted in the front wall of the casing. The spring I60 normally tends to rotate the disc I32 in a clockwise direction as viewed in-Fig. 5, thereby urging the pointer arm I50 towards the casing end wall 10.

Normally, when not in use it is desirable to retain device I in the position shown in Fig. 5that is, with the sleeve 22 resting on the collar 20, and

the lift shaft II6 rotated to a position to retain the plunger I I2 in a raised position as previously described and shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this lowermost position of the device the lower face,

I of the test plug I04 is retained in spaced rela tion to the upper face of the platform.

When it is desired to test a piece of meat with the device I an operator, who operates the device from the rear thereof, that is the operator faces the device as viewed in Fig. 1, raises the sleeve 22 by rotating the handwheel 39 in a clockwise direction as previously described, thus raising the foot 86 :a predetermined distance above the platform. If desired, the sleeve 22 may be retained in the raised position by correct operation of the clamping mechanism 32. That is by moving the rod 59 to a position wherein the cam face 52 tightly engages the vertical shaft Id. The operator then places a piece of meat, such as the piece of steak indicated at i65 in Figs, 1, 2 and 4, on the platform 4. Thereafter, the operator releases the clamping mechanism iii-that is, if the mechanism has previously been set to retain the device in a raised position, by moving the rod 59 to a position wherein the cam face 52 is out of engagement with the vertical shaft Id. The operator then rotates the hand wheel in an anti-clockwise position, thereby lowering the sleeve 22 until the foot 36 engages the meat I55. The operator then continues to rotate the wheel, thereby forcing the lower face of the foot downward into the meat I65 as shown in Fig. 4. Previous to the foot engaging the meat, the lower end it of the test plug I6 3 engages the meat and is moved upward thereby against the action of the spring 1 It. As the test plug we moves upward it moves the pointer arm 93 through the medium of the pin Hi8, swinging the pointer portions 99 and laid downward. The operator continues to rotate the hand wheel 33 to force the foot 86 into the meat H65 until the test plug iil i has been moved upward a sufficient distance, whereby it has moved the indicator arm 5% to the phantom line position shown in Fig. l and has swung the pointer are into register with the indicium $2 on the front face of the indicator plate 953 and the top edge of the indicator portion 89 into register with the indicium 93 on the rear face of the indicator plate Qii. When the indicators thus register with their associated indicia a predetermined pressure has been applied to the foot 86 to force it into the meat. As the foot 36 is forced downward the meat within the confines of the foot recess H86 rises slightly and forms a blister as indicated at sea in Fig. 4. It is this blister which engages the lower face iti'; of the test plug its. After the indicators 98 and ti t register with their associated indicia the operator actuates the clamping mechanism i2 :as previously described to retain the sleeve 22 and thereby through the vari ous associated parts the footiiii in the position to which it has been moved. Thereafter, the operator swings the lift shaft handle H9 anti-clockwise, thus likewise rotating the lift shaft lit to move the pin Iiii thereon past the vertical axis of the plunger H2. Whereupon, the spring E39 acting against the head 525 of the rod I24 forces the plunger H2 downward into engagement with the bottom of the test plug recess 5G5, forcing the lower end 595 of the test plug downward against the meat blister 185. The spring I38 is tensioned to a predeterminee pressure and forces the lower end of the test plug its downward into the meat as shown in 2 a distance determined by the solidity of the eat. As the plunger H2 moves downward it rotates the disc i82 which in turn swings the indicator arm I50 towards the end wall 69 of the casing. The lower pivot pin I36 of the link I 34 is positioned in a slot I31 provided in the fiat portion I13 of the plunger II2 to allow the plunger to move downward into engagement with the bottom of the test plug recess it without actuating the pointer arm IEO before the test plug I04 actually starts to penetrate the meat. The distance the indicator :arm 5% moves is governed by the depth of penetration of the test plug I04 into the meat. The more tender the meat the less solid it is so thus the test plug I 04 will penetrade to a greater depth in the most tender of meat. Meats of less tenderness are more solid, so, therefore, as the solidity of the meat increases the test plug It? will penetrate the meat to lesser distances. For instance, if the steak I being tested is very tender, which it is shown to be in Fig. 2,

the end of the test plug it penetrates the meat to a maximum depth and the plunger H2 will, through the medium of the link I3 and the disc I32, swing the pointer arm its to its maximum travel in the direction towards the casing wall 65. In this position the pointers IEI and IE8 will be positioned opposite the division M3 on the dial, thus indicating that the meat is very tender. As meat tested increases in solidity the pointer arm iiiil comes to rest farther and farther from the casing wall 69 indicating, successively, tender, medium and tough. If, for instance, the meat being tested indicated by the pointers Iti and I58 as being just out of the tender division H44 and into the medium division 1 45 on the steak scale iiii, the pointers I53 and IE9 would indicate on the roast scale i 32 that it would make a very tender roast. As the pointers i5! and IE8 move through the remainder of the length of the medium division 5:35 on the steak scale the pointers E53 and E55 would indicate that the piece of meat being tested would make a tender roast. As the pointers iti and let move from the medium division It? on the steak scale just into the tough division the pointers i53 and 1% will indicate that the meat being tested would make a tender roast.

To clean the platform :3 the sleeve 22 is moved to a raised position as shown in Fig. l, latched up by the mechanism :32 and then it may be swung about the axis of the vertical shaft It thereby moving the casing to one side of the platform out of the way.

When the device I is used on a counter of a meat dispensing store the hand wheel 39 is directed towards the rear of the counter, thus thecontrol wheel, the latch mechanism 42, and the lift shaft handle iii! are all readily accessible to an operator behind the counter. The operator of the device views the scales I=ii and 22 on the rear face of the dial I46 through the aperture B9 in the cover i i while a customer views the scales ME and M2 on the front face of the dial i 36 through the aperture iii in the front wall '72 of the casing 65. Likewise, the operator observes the portion 9a of the pressure indicator arm 93 in relation to the indicium 93 on the rear face of the plate 98 while the customer observes the pointer portion ltd relation to the indicium 92 on the front face of the plate 9&3. When a purchaser buys a piece of meat and has it tested in one store and at a later date desires the same degree of meat at another store having one of the testing devices he will be assured that if it registers the same on the second testing device as it did on the other testing device that the meat will be of the same degree of tenderness. Thus, the necessity of relying on the sense of touch and the accuracy of judgment between various butchers,

which may vary greatly, is eliminated by use of my improved meat testing device.

Besides the devices being used only in meat dispensing stores, it may also be conveniently used in restaurants with very gratifying results.

I claim:

1. In a meat testing device, a vertically movable member, said member having an enlarged circular and hollow foot portion depending therefrom, a test plug positioned in said hollow foot portion and vertically movable relative thereto and having an imperforate lower face and a recess opening through the top thereof, means to move said foot into engagement with a piece of meat placed thereunder and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat; means to move said test plug into engagement with said meat and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat; and means extending into the recess in said test plug to engage and move the test plug into the meat.

2. In a meat testing device, a vertically movable member, said member having an enlarged circular and hollow foot portion depending therefrom, a test plug positioned in said hollow foot portion and vertically movable relative thereto and having an imperforate lower face and a recess opening through the top thereof, means to move said foot into engagement with a piece of meat placed thereunder and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat; means to move said test plug into engagement with said meat and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat; a plunger extending into the recess in saidtest plug to engage and move the test plug into the meat, an indicator coacting with a graduated scale to indicate the solidity of said meat; and means operably connecting the plunger and indicator to move said indicator upon movement of said test plug into the meat.

3. In a meat testing device, :a platform, a casing member vertically movable above said platform, means to support said casing, means to vertically move said casing; means to retain said casing in adjusted vertically moved positions, an enlarged circular hollow foot portion depending from said casing and adapted to be moved into engagement with a piece of meat to be tested, a test plug positioned in said foot portion and vertically movable relative thereto and having an imperforate lower face and a recess opening through the top thereof, means to move said test plug below said casing and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat, a plunger extending into the recess in said test plug, and means engaging said plunger to move said test plug into engagement with said meat and apply a predetermined pressure to said meat.

4. In a meat testing device, a platform, a casing member vertically movable above said platform, means to support said casing, means to vertically move said casing; means to retain said casing in adjusted vertically moved positions, an enlarged circular hollow foot portion depending from said casing, a test plug positioned in said foot portion and vertically movable relative thereto and having an imperforate lower face and a recess opening through the top thereof, means to move said foot into engagement with a piece of meat positioned below the foot and to apply pressure to said piece of meat through the circular rim of said foot; means to move said test plug into engagement with said meat andapply a predetermined pressure thereto; a plunger extending into the recess in said test plug to engage and move the test plug into the meat; said casing including a graduated scale and an indicator member both visible from opposite sides thereof, means connecting said plunger and indicator member and operable to move said indicator member across the face of said scale to indicate the solidity of the meat being being tested when said plunger moves said test plug into the meat.

5. In a meat testing device, a platform, a casing member, means to support said casing for vertical and transverse movement above said platform, a test plug housing member depending from said casing and provided with a recess, a test plug positioned in said recess and vertically movable therein, means to limit the downward movement of said test plug, said test plug having an open-topped recess therein, a plunger vertically movable in said casing and extending downward into said test plug recess, a coiled spring surrounding said plunger and positioned in said test plug recess with the lower end thereof urging the bottom of said test plug downwardly, a pointer member pivotally mounted on said casing and a graduated scale supported on said casing, means to positively move said plunger upwardly out of engagement with said test plug, means to resiliently urge said plunger into engagement with said test plug to urge said test plug downwardly, and means operably connecting said plunger and pointer member to effect actuation of said pointer member across the face of said scale upon engagement of said plunger with said test plug.

6. In a meat testing device, a vertical standard, a platform, a casing member positioned above said platform, a sleeve member mounted on said standard and vertically movable relative thereto, means connecting said sleeve and said casing to support said casing, means to vertically move said sleeve relative to said standard and means to retain said sleeve in an adjusted vertically moved position, a test plug housing member depending from said casing and provided with a recess, a test plug positioned in said recess, resilient means urging said test plug downwardly, means to limit the downward movement of said test plug, a vertically movable plunger carried by said casing and adapted in one position to engage said test plug. positive means to move said plunger upwardly and retain it in a raised position, resilient means normally urging said plunger downwardly, said plunger when said retaining means is released being adapted to be moved downwardly by said associated resilient means into engagement with said test plug and move said test plug downward, a pointer member pivotally mounted on said casing, an associated scale member mounted in said casing, and means operably connecting said plunger and said pointer to effect actuation of said pointer upon engagement of said plunger with said test plug.

HARLOW P. WISEMAN.

References Cited in the file of I this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,232,782 Field July 10, 1917 1,519,602 Zimmerman et al. Dec. 16, 1924 1,822,662 Letsch Sept. 8, 1931 1,842,323 Gluzek Jan. 19, 1932 2,282,904 Tea May 12, 1942 2,446,956 Ross Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 317,824 France June 6, 1902 

